Xenophon states his terms

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young could use the support of independent Nick Xenophon.
Photo: Andrew Meares

by
James Massola Political correspondent

Independent
Nick Xenophon
could throw the Greens’
Sarah Hanson-Young
a preferences lifeline in the Senate, but only if the environmental party swears off an act of “political bastardry" and preferences his anti-pokies ally
Andrew Wilkie
.

Senator Hanson-Young is a high-profile member of the Greens but is the most at-risk of the three Greens senators up for re-election in 2013, having secured just 0.45 per cent of a Senate quota in 2007.

Senator Xenophon won more than a full quota in 2007 and is expected to increase his vote, while Labor and the Coalition won two seats in South Australia each and are expected to do so again, turning the sixth and final senate seat into a three cornered contest. Nationally, the Coalition controls 34 of 76 Senate seats and must claim extra seats to repeal the carbon and mining taxes, or win support from the cross bench.

Senator Xenophon told The Australian Financial Review that Senator Hanson-Young was in a stronger position in 2013, but admitted the fate of his lower house ally Mr Wilkie, who holds the seat of Denison in Tasmania, would determine where he directed his preferences in South Australia.

“I have worked constructively with Sarah over the years but I think that it would be act of sheer bastardry if the Greens preferenced the ALP ahead of Wilkie, given their common voting records,’’ he said.

Senator Xenophon divided his preferences between the Greens and Family First in 2007. His high primary vote dragged down the primary vote of both major parties and allowed Senator Hanson-Young to sneak past the third Labor senate candidate and secure election.

ABC election analyst Antony Green predicted Senator Xenophon’s vote would rise, turning him into a potential king maker in the South Australian senate race.

“Her problem is going to depend on how well Nick Xenophon polls, what he does with his preferences and what’s left over from the Liberals and Labor. The Greens may well need to rely on Xenophon preferences, but if he does really well he could even get a second candidate up,’’ Mr Green said.